Human Settlements
Page 31
Energy & Water
Introduction
Energy supply is an essential resource of the modern urban environment,
particularly within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield which accommodates a large
residential population, and major industrial and commercial sites.
South Australia’s fossil fuel power stations produced 8.9 million tonnes of
greenhouse gases in 2009. This was a decrease of 7.5 per cent from the
previous year, the second year in a row that South Australia’s fossil fuel
emissions have fallen by this magnitude. Fossil fuels accounted for 83 per cent
of electricity generation in the state, and gas-fired generation contributes to 11.5
per cent.
Electricity produced in South Australia was the second least carbon intensive of
the five states, with its carbon intensity decreasing by 4.5 percent to 0.64
tonnes of greenhouse gases per MWh of electricity. This was due to substantial
increases in renewable energy development in the State and decline in
electricity generation from fossil fuels (The Climate Group 2010). This was
further supported by the State Government’s 2011 proposal to introduce
regulations to limit the carbon intensity of any new power station built in the
future.
Fresh water is essential for human life and the natural environment. Across
Australia in recent years water restrictions have been imposed in nearly every
state in response to water storage capacities reaching dangerously low levels.
In 2010 South Australia cancelled water restrictions due to good rainfall events
(recorded as 'above average') within metropolitan Adelaide. However, these
water restrictions are temporary and are subject to change in accordance with
Adelaide water supplies over the summer period. The water restrictions in the
last 5 years have raised the profile of the tenuous circumstances of water
supply management across Australia.
The State Government response has been to develop
Water Proofing Adelaide
,
a strategy for 2005 to 2025, aimed at practical management of our water
supplies to sustain the projected growth of the City.
The
Water for Good Plan
outlines actions to ensure South Australian water
supplies are secure, safe, reliable – and able to sustain continued growth for at
least the next 40 years.
The main sources of water for Adelaide are the River Murray, the Adelaide Hills
catchments, and various groundwater sources. On average the River Murray
provides 40 percent of Adelaide’s water, however in a drought year this can be
as high as 90 percent. Although the City of Port Adelaide Enfield is not located
within River Murray catchment, the River has significant environmental and
economic value to the people who live and work here.
